Siheyuan: Why does your brother beat you up every day, Shazhu?

I earned back the face I got from the beating I received yesterday with this meal today!

I, He Yuzhu, although I lost face yesterday, but from today on, I am still a real man of the city!!!

He Weiguo glanced at his silly look and felt amused, but he had to admit that this kid was really good at cooking.

He Weiguo was greeting people and glanced at the crowd, but found that the boys from the Yan family were missing. He asked:

"Yushui, didn't you go to the front yard to tell them to be released? Why can't I see anyone? Is there a leak?"

Yu Shui quickly replied, "Brother, I called! The first ones I called were Jiefang and Jiekuang!"

"Ok?"

He Weiguo was a little surprised.

I was talking to the two boys from the Yan family just fine yesterday, but why are they still nowhere to be seen now that everyone is here?

At this moment, Xu Damao, with his sharp eyes, pointed at the moon gate leading to the front yard and shouted:

"Hey! Brother He! Look at that Moon Gate! There are three sneaking around! Aren't they the three boys from the Yan family?"

He Weiguo looked in the direction and sure enough, the three brothers Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang were hiding behind the Moon Gate.

He peeked in, looking like he wanted to go in but didn't dare.

He Weiguo strode over, his voice filled with a hint of deliberate dissatisfaction:

"Hey! You three guys! Are you hiding here and practicing underground warfare?"

"We agreed to come for dinner, what's going on? Do I have to carry a sedan chair to invite you to the table?"

The three brothers were exposed and became even more embarrassed.

Yan Jiecheng's face flushed red as he stammered:

"He...Brother He, I...we came early, and look...look, everyone brought something, but the three of us are empty-handed. It's really...really embarrassing!!"

Yan Jiefang also lowered his head and spoke in a lower voice:

"My...my dad said that he wasn't coming to eat, so why...why should we bring food? We had no choice, so we didn't take anything."

Yan Jiekuang hid behind his brother and only dared to glance at He Weiguo secretly.

He Weiguo looked at the three boys' embarrassed but honest expressions, and understood, so he slowed down his tone:

"Just for this? Look at how little you can do!"

He reached out and rubbed Yan Jiefang's head:

"Brother He invited you to dinner because he likes you three and wants you to join in the fun!"

"Who said you have to bring anything? I'm treating everyone to a meal, how can I miss your food?"

He glanced at the three brothers:

"Don't I know what your father is planning?"

"Ignore him! Come in!"

Yan Jiecheng was still a little hesitant:

"Brother He, this... this is against the rules, right? Eating in the courtyard..."

He Weiguo interrupted him, his tone unquestionable:

"I have the final say here! The rule is to make sure you eat well! Hurry up, come in and find a place to sit!"

"If you keep on dawdling, those hungry wolves will snatch up all the food!"

He Weiguo's words, with his unique dominance and unquestionable concern, were like a warm current that washed away the embarrassment and shyness of the three boys.

They looked at each other, finally plucked up the courage, and followed He Weiguo into the bustling courtyard.

Although he was still a little reserved, he felt a strong sense of gratitude and closeness towards Brother He, who seemed fierce but was actually protective of his people.

Especially Yan Jiefang, he felt that the touch of Brother He rubbing his head just now made him feel more at ease than his own father.

Seeing Sha Zhu, who was surrounded by people praising his cooking skills and looked very proud, they all felt a little envious:

Although Sha Zhu gets beaten every day, Brother He is really doing it for his own good!

If they could have such a good brother, what would a couple of beatings matter?

What's more, if they really had such a big brother, they would be guaranteed to be obedient and would definitely not be beaten.

Chapter 59: Beat those who deserve it! Clean up those who need it

I saw that the tables, chairs and benches were all set out in the yard, and most people were there.

As the host, He Weiguo stood up and cleared his throat, and the noise in the yard gradually died down.

"Dear neighbors!" He Weiguo said loudly:

"Before we start eating, let me introduce a distinguished guest to you all!"

He turned sideways and pointed at Zhou Zhenbang beside him:

"This is my brother, Zhou Zhenbang! He was my old battalion commander in the army!"

Zhou Zhenbang also stood up with a smile, bowed to the people around him, and said with full energy:

"Hello, neighbors! My name is Zhou Zhenbang, just call me Old Zhou!"

"I'm very happy to come to your courtyard today to have a hot meal and get to know everyone! I hope everyone enjoys the food and drinks tonight!"

After saying that, he sat back down neatly.

After introducing Zhou Zhenbang, He Weiguo picked up his glass and looked around:

"Dear neighbors! I'm He Weiguo. I've been away from home for ten years as a soldier. Today I'm finally back!"

"Over the years, I've been left alone at home with my naive younger brother and younger sister..."

He glanced at Shazhu and the rain:

"Over the years, I've been so grateful to all the neighbors for their support, both overt and covert!"

"This first glass of wine is for everyone! Thank you!"

After saying that, he raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.

All the men present, young and old, as long as they held up their glasses, stood up and drank along.

The atmosphere suddenly became heated.

At this moment, an aunt at the next table said with a bit of embarrassment on her face:

"Weiguo, your words of thanks... make me, your aunt, feel embarrassed!"

"It's not easy for your pillars to draw rainwater. We...we want to help, but we're not able to. We have many children at home, and food is tight..."

Another old man also sighed: "Yes, Weiguo, these days, every family has its own problems. I am ashamed to be of limited help..."

He Weiguo waved his hand and said sincerely:

"Dear elders! I, He Weiguo, am not an unreasonable person!"

"These days, being able to feed a few mouths at home is a skill!"

"What I want to thank you for is not how much you have helped my family!"

His voice deepened and his eyes became sharp:

"I want to thank everyone here for not taking advantage of the situation!"

"I didn't count my two younger brothers and sisters who have no parents to protect them!"

"Unlike some people, they are not trying to take advantage of them in various ways!"

"Just for the bottom line and duty that neighbors should have, I, He Weiguo, offer this glass of wine wholeheartedly!"

These words were as blunt as a knife, instantly cutting through the veil of warmth in the courtyard.

Everyone understood who He Weiguo was referring to—

Who else is there besides the Jia family and those managers?

Yi Zhonghai's overt and covert calculations and the endless bloodsucking of the Jia family.

The two uncles, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, often turned a blind eye and even tried to smooth things over, causing Sha Zhu and Yu Shui to suffer a lot of losses.

Everyone knows these things clearly, but no one has dared to point them out so bluntly before.

None of the three uncles showed up at the table today, and the reason is self-evident.

Many people at the table, especially those who were usually morally coerced by Yi Zhonghai into donating money and materials to the Jia family, felt the same way at this moment and nodded frequently.

He Weiguo said what they had been holding in their hearts for a long time.

However, Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, Yan Jiecheng, and Yan Jiefang all lowered their heads with burning faces.

The things their father did made them feel ashamed to even sit here.

He Weiguo's eyes were like lightning, and he immediately locked onto them:

"Guangtian! Guangfu! Jiecheng! Jiefang! Liberation! Lift your heads up for me!"

The boys subconsciously straightened their backs and raised their heads, but their eyes were still a little evasive.

He Weiguo's tone slowed down, but with unquestionable strength:

"What your father did is something that happened to his generation! It has nothing to do with you little boys!"

"Understand?"

“You are still young and have a long way to go!”

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a leadership-like appeal, and his eyes swept over all the young people in the courtyard:

"Today, as the elder brother of this courtyard, I am putting this out there! I hope that you, the younger generation present here, will not learn those shabby schemes!"

"Those who need to study, study hard!"

"Get to work and do your job diligently!"

"Focus your mind on the right path!"